Arceus ex may be the god of the Pokémon universe, but in Pokémon TCG Pocket’s latest meta, it’s a humble, smiling tree that’s toppling the divine. With just a single Fighting Headbutt, Sudowoodo has emerged from obscurity to become the most unexpected-and effective-nemesis for Arceus ex, knocking out the mighty legend in just two turns and turning the competitive scene on its head.
Sudowoodo is a fighting-type card introduced as part of the Triumphant Light expansion. It has a long, log-like body and green bulbs for hands. My childhood self described the overall look of this Pokémon as “derpy,” but that doesn’t matter – because the silly Sudowoodo has become the ultimate tool to overcome and defeat the all-powerful god, Arceus.
This post will explain why Sudowoodo has rocketed in popularity in Pokémon TCG Pocket, alongside some details about how to use it to defeat the Arceus ex decks that are all the rage right now.
How to use Sudowoodo to defeat god (Arceus ex) itself
Sudowoodo has emerged as the ultimate counter to Arceus ex in Pokémon TCG Pocket, thanks to its Fighting Headbutt attack, which deals 20 base damage plus an additional 30 if the opponent is an ex Pokémon-precisely what Arceus ex is. Factoring in Arceus ex’s weakness to Fighting-type moves, Sudowoodo can hit for a massive 70 damage per turn using only a single Fighting energy, allowing it to knock out Arceus ex in just two turns before Arceus can even mount its offense. The setup is simple: deploy Sudowoodo, attach one Fighting energy, and target Arceus ex directly. For even greater impact, pair Sudowoodo with support cards like Lucario, whose Fighting Coach ability boosts Fighting-type attack damage, or equip items such as Rocky Helmet to punish Arceus ex for attacking back. This straightforward yet devastating strategy has made Sudowoodo the bane of Arceus ex players and a must-have in any anti-meta deck aiming to topple the so-called god of Pokémon TCG Pocket.
Sudowoodo is a basic fighting-type Pokémon that has 80 HP and a retreat cost of two energy. It has one move, Fighting Headbutt, which requires one fighting-type energy to use and has a base power of 20 damage. But Fighting Headbutt deals an additional 30 damage if your opponent has an ex Pokémon in the active spot. As it turns out, this unique skillset is the perfect fit to counter one of the strongest (and most popular) decks at the moment, Arceus ex.
A deck pairing Arceus ex with Dialga ex has become the new go-to strategy in the larger meta in Pokémon TCG Pocket. Arceus ex is a colorless type weak to fighting-type card and has 140 HP. Despite its strengths, this makes it the perfect bait for the almighty Sudowoodo.
The way it works is pretty straightforward. Sudowoodo is a basic Pokémon that you can set up in one turn; just slap a single energy on one, and you’re good to go. Because Arceus is an ex, and because it is vulnerable to fighting-type cards, Sudowoodo can deal up to 70 damage per turn and knock out Arceus ex in two turns with no needed ramp-up. Factor in other cards – like Lucario, with its ability that increases the damage of fighting-type moves by 20 damage per attack – and you have the makings of souped-up Sudowoodo.
It’s no wonder that Sudowoodo has become an overnight sensation in the larger Pokémon TCG Pocket community. People are sharing memesto joke about the all-powerful threat that is Sudowoodo and the way it can take down Arceus, which is a literal god in the larger Pokémon universe.
How did Sudowoodo become the unexpected hero against Arceus ex in Pokémon TCG Pocket
Sudowoodo became the unexpected hero against Arceus ex in Pokémon TCG Pocket thanks to a perfect storm of type advantage, efficient attacks, and the shifting meta introduced with the Triumphant Light expansion. As a basic Fighting-type Pokémon, Sudowoodo can be played and powered up with just one Fighting Energy, making it quick to deploy.
Its signature move, Fighting Headbutt, normally deals 20 damage, but when facing an ex Pokémon like Arceus ex, it gains an extra 30 damage. Because Arceus ex is weak to Fighting-type attacks, Sudowoodo’s total damage jumps to 70 per attack-half of Arceus ex’s 140 HP in a single hit. This means Sudowoodo can knock out Arceus ex in just two turns, often before Arceus ex can fully set up its own powerful attacks.
The simplicity of this strategy, requiring minimal setup and only one energy, caught many players off guard and quickly made Sudowoodo a staple counter in the meta. The situation is further amplified when Sudowoodo is paired with cards like Lucario, whose Fighting Coach ability can boost its damage output even more, making Sudowoodo an even greater threat to Arceus ex and other ex cards.
This combination of speed, efficiency, and type advantage turned Sudowoodo from a quirky underdog into the meta’s most effective answer to the once-dominant Arceus ex.
How does Sudowoodo’s Fighting Headbutt counter Arceus ex so effectively
Sudowoodo’s Fighting Headbutt counters Arceus ex so effectively in Pokémon TCG Pocket due to a combination of three factors:
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Bonus Damage vs ex Pokémon: Fighting Headbutt deals a base 20 damage, but gains an extra 30 damage when used against ex Pokémon like Arceus ex.
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Type Weakness: Arceus ex, being a colorless Pokémon, is weak to Fighting-type attacks. This weakness doubles the total attack damage, bringing Fighting Headbutt’s output to 70 damage per turn against Arceus ex.
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Quick Setup: Sudowoodo is a basic Pokémon that only requires a single Fighting Energy to attack, allowing it to be deployed and attack immediately-often before Arceus ex can accumulate the three energies needed for its own attack.
With Arceus ex having 140 HP, Sudowoodo can knock it out in just two turns, making it one of the most efficient and accessible counters in the current meta. This synergy of bonus damage, type advantage, and speed is why Sudowoodo’s Fighting Headbutt is so devastating against Arceus ex.
